Archive for the 'Employment/Economics' Category

ENRIGHT PROTESTS TREATMENT OF STREET TRADERS

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on August 27, 2010
in Cadogan Enright, Downpatrick and Employment/Economics
. 0 Comments

DOWNPATRICK STREET TRADERS, originally uploaded by downgreenparty.

Downpatrick Cllr Enright has criticised council officials for not listening to street traders from the Downpatrick Saturday market. Street Traders have been moved to the rear of the bus station while the work on the sewerage system has been going on.

Cadogan pointed out that “I have consistently pointed out that moving Street Traders to an area with no passing trade will not work. We previously rejected the car park at the cinema for the very same reasons and this latest location is a disaster for the Traders and there are only three of them left.”

“Every town worth its salt has a colourful market of some kind going on at the weekend, and with a bit of creative thought we could accommodate them in areas where it is actually worthwhile to trade” said Cllr Enright

Green Party Cllr Cadogan Enright continued “I have asked that the railings on the other side of the square to where they use to trade, but Down District Council has not been sympathetic to their needs. There is loads of Room at this location, and the three traders would probably draw trade to the front of nearby shops like Topshop as a result.

The failure to take into account the disruption to these traders is only exceeded by the failure to manage the overall redevelopment of Market Street to minimise the impact on the trade in shops along the street.

While we all accept the need to separate the sewer and the flood water, I cannot understand why overtime and weekend work are not being used to reduce the impact on local shop keepers and businesses.

Any argument from that it is more costly to work in this way ignores that fact that shops in Downpatrick are a vital part of our infrastructure and the base of our rates income as a council. Margaret Ritchie’s DSD and their partners are saving money in a manner that costs local businesses people – this project could be made weeks shorter. Any local business person could have managed and coordinated it better,” concluded Cllr Cadogan Enright.

CALL FOR MARKET STREET TO OPEN IMMEDIATELY

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on August 26, 2010
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, Cadogan Enright, Council, Downpatrick and Employment/Economics
. 0 Comments

Cllr Enright with Market St shop owners, originally uploaded by downgreenparty.

Cllr Cadogan Enright put a motion before council on Monday Night and supported calls from the Downpatrick Business Forum for Market Street to open for two way traffic with immediate effect. He said that Traders were devastated by the announcement by Down District Council’s economic and cultural development director Sharon O’Connor that the resumption of normal trading and traffic patterns would not happen at the end of July, but has been postponed to the 13th September.

Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright said, “If you go up to Royal Avenue in Belfast you will see their Street improvement scheme being carried out on Sundays. All this week there was only one building worker on Market Street doing some pavement work at the Ulster Bank corner with Irish Street. Traffic does not need to be diverted for this sort of work. All the major work has long-since finished and there is only a bit of tidying up to do”.

Business Forum chairman Patrick Cassidy said that “business is severely impaired at the moment with a huge reduction in footfall on Market Street. There can be no excuse for putting back the date of re-opening of the Street”.

Business Forum secretary Tracy Quail said this has been going on too long, and the remaining work could easily be carried out on a single Sunday, the Street should open forthwith.”

In putting a motion before Council at the behest of Traders, Cllr Enright sought council logistical support in making a claim for rates relief to the Regional Rates Authority. No Trader has ever succeeded in making a claim under this scheme which is supposed to give up to a years rates rebate in the event of an uninsurable risk not arising from normal competition damaging trade. Cllr Enright said “The Hardship Relief Scheme in NI has become moribund and ineffective as the Regional Rates Authority is interpreting ‘normal business risk’ so broadly as to make any claim under its provisions impossible. The council must write to the Minster to make the interpretation of the rules more realistic”

“I am also campaigning for the immediate resumption of two way traffic and normal working, as this is the peak trading period for Market Street Traders”. The partial closure of Market Street has been added to by works in Knocknashinna, Saul Street and elsewhere around the town and the combined effect is devastating” Concluded Cadogan Enright

Green Party leaflet for local traders in Market Street Click this DOC to view the leaflet produced by Cllr Enright which gives an update on the Market Street campaign

LAUNCH OF GREEN BUILD WEBSITE

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on August 19, 2010
in Cadogan Enright, Climate Change/Flooding, Employment/Economics, Newry & Mourne, Planning issues and illegal development and Renewable Energy
. 0 Comments

LAUNCH OF GREEN BUILD WEBSITE, originally uploaded by downgreenparty.

Cllr Cadogan Enright’s Down District Council was the lead council in the web-site launched by Green Party’s Mr. John Gormley T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Minister Gormley was attending at the invitation of the East Border Region Partnership of Councils from North and South of the Boarder.

Minister John Gormley officially launched the SustainAndBuild.com website at an event in the Ballymascanlon Hotel in Dundalk co. Louth. Sustainandbuild.com is a portal web facility offering open access to planning, building and environmental knowledge within the East Border Region of Ireland. It facilitates trade and investment and highlights prime development opportunities. Through the actions of participating enterprises, councils and experts, it explains in plain terms the legislation and policies applicable to development in both jurisdictions in the region.

Referring to the site as a model for joined-up government and cross border cooperation the Minister commented : “The way it has managed to link together the information and spokespersons from Planning, Building Control, Water treatment, Heritage, Health and Safety and Roads functions from both jurisdictions into a veritable one stop shop is an enviable achievement”

The website is easy to use with video, audio and interactive content all being deployed to communicate information with maximum impact. It has learning modules for schools, with interactive functionality to gauge the real level of understanding achieved.

The site also features up-to-date information on sustainability in design and construction, best practice approaches, renewable technologies and energy saving solutions. Recommending the site to anyone involved in or contemplating a construction project in this region, or further afield. Minister said:- “The new sustainability and energy efficiency agenda is where it’s at for the industry and the more we get to grips with this agenda now, the better prepared we will be for the much-anticipated upturn in economic activity when it comes and come it will”.

Photograph shows South Down Green Party Westminister Candidate Cllr Cadogan Enright and Green Party Senator Cllr. Mark Deary from Dundalk at official launch of SustainAndBuild.com website by the Minister.

ENRIGHT PLEDGES A CARBON BILL IF ELECTED TO WESTMINSTER

Published
by
Mark McCormick
on April 23, 2010
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, Cadogan Enright, Employment/Economics and Renewable Energy
. 0 Comments

As part of their election coverage the Mourne Observer asked all candidates in South Down – If you could pass one law what would it be and why?

Cllr Cadogan Enright said, “A Carbon Bill – A Bill reviving employment in construction in N.I by insulating the 147,000 sub-standard homes and installing moneysaving renewable systems. It would abolish taxes on eco-cars and on NI’s home-grown heating fuels, taxing instead high carbon foreign fossil fuels – using this money to support Ulster Farmers producing 15% of our energy needs.”

Press Coverage

– If you could make a new law, what would it be? - Cllr Enright Responds

WE CAN REINVIGORATE SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL ECONOMY WITH THE “GREEN NEW DEAL”

Published
by
Mark McCormick
on April 23, 2010
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, Cadogan Enright, Employment/Economics and Renewable Energy
. 0 Comments

Last June the leaders of business, farming, Unions and the Voluntary sector got together to launch the “Green New Deal” for NI to regenerate our Economy.

The Confederation of British Industry N.I. pointed out that 10% of N.I. income is spent on foreign fossil fuels. They called for a construction program to “green” our building stock and to produce more local energy. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Ulster Farmers Union agreed and estimated that around 24,000 new jobs could be created plus huge spin-offs for the agricultural sector.

137,000 homes in N. Ireland fail to meet basic standards of comfort and warmth, some areas in NI have 39% of households suffering from fuel poverty – forcing people to choose between heating and eating. By making homes more energy efficient the Green New Deal can alleviate fuel poverty and cut peoples heating bills.

As of last Tuesday, none of the other main political parties have signed up to this vision offered by the people who actually run the NI economy.
Instead, I have a list of 42 Green Tech companies in Co. Down that have been seriously damaged or put out of business by the economically incompetent coalition of the SDLP, DUP, Sinn Fein and UUP who abandoned progressive policies bequeathed by Direct Rule Minister Hain, voting massive cut backs in the Renewable Energy sector leaving our burgeoning industry, employing up to 1300 people in Co. Down, struggling for a home market.

Aside from the small local firms, big Down Green-tech companies like Glen Dimplex, Kingspan Environmental or Thermomax have to export their production. NI alone in the EU refuses the supports needed to wean Northern Ireland off expensive imported fossil fuels and to grow our indigenous resources into the international Green Tech market worth £3000 billion per annum.

Press Coverage

– Enright says Green New Deal could spark revival of Economy

GREENS WELCOME PROGRESS TOWARDS MOURNE NATIONAL PARK

Published
by
Mark McCormick
on April 20, 2009
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, Cadogan Enright, Employment/Economics, John Hardy, Newcastle, Parks/National Park and Wildlife/Trees/Nature
. 0 Comments

Brenda Enright, Cllr Cadogan Enright and John Hardy of the Green Party.DOWN Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright welcomed news that Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has made a trip to Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park with a view to creating a similar model in the Mourne Mountains.

Downpatrick Cllr Cadogan Enright said “I received overwhelming support at the Green Party meeting in Downpatrick this week to renew our campaign for the new National Park to be recognised by UNESCO as a cross-boarder Geopark with all the economic benefits that go with international recognition”.

Newcastle Green Party co-ordinator John Hardy briefed the meeting on how the Marble Arch caves system in counties Fermanagh and Cavan has been recognised as a cross-border geopark by UNESCO.

Cllr Enright said, “This is a great example of how cross border eco-tourism initiatives can work and help promote local economies and tourism. This is a fine example of how a similar initiative could benefit Co. Down and Co. Louth with a Mourne National Park.

“Dublin Green Party Environment Minister John Gormley has previously written to the South Down National Park working committee expressing an interest is resolving any difficulties in having a cross-boarder approach with the Cooley’s in Co. Louth. Now In N.I., Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has spoken about his visit to the Cairngorms National Park and stated that there is no evidence of restrictions on farmers than there are on farmers elsewhere. This is to be welcomed also”, reported Cllr Enright.

Cllr Enright said: “A new National Park will create jobs, improve infrastructure including the A25 route, upgrade public transport and offers one of the most exciting opportunities for the area’s economic future. I call on other political representatives to show courage and come in behind the National Park project.”

The Green Party has been a consistent supporter of the National Park, which according to a 2006 Countryside Consultancy report has the potential of creating in excess of 800 -1,200 jobs. This has been in the face of a well-organised campaign against the National Park that has left the other political parties divided or sitting on the fence in the South Down area on this key issue. The Mourne Mountains

Green Party activists at the meeting were greatly amused at the suggestion that they might be supporting Minister Sammy Wilson on any subject given his views on climate change and opposition to protecting the environment in many areas, but agreed that they had to be fair when on rare occasions the Minister actually appeared to be doing his job as Environment Minister.

According to the Potential Impacts of National Park Designation in Northern Ireland report, published in May 2006, upwards of 1.43 million visitors per year could be attracted to the proposed National Park and 2.53 million to the wider sphere of influence. This, according to the report equates to £30-43 million in spending by visitors each year.

Press Cuttings: Green Party renews campaign for Mourne National Park, Green Party urges National Park move

GREEN PARTY LAUNCHES EUROPEAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on January 26, 2009
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, 5. EVENTS, Brian Wilson, Cadogan Enright, Ciaran Mussen, Climate Change/Flooding, EURO CAMPAIGN, Employment/Economics and Renewable Energy
. 0 Comments

Photograph shows right to left Down Cllr Cadogan Enright, EU electioncandidate Steven Agnew, Green MLA Brian Wilson and Green Councillor CiaranMussen At the massive wind-turbine assembly plan in East Belfast

DOWN Green Party councillor Cadogan Enright was at Harland and Wolff in East Belfast to launch the Green Party’s European election candidate Steven Agnew.

Steven Agnew joined the Green Party in 2003 and stood in the 2007 Assembly elections in East Belfast when Cllr Enright acted as his election agent. Steven currently works as a research officer for Green Party MLA Brian Wilson.

Downpatrick Councillor Enright said, “There are currently 43 green deputies in the European Parliament from 14 different countries. We have played a major role in the creation of legislation that has helped to protect our environment, boosted the farming community, set ambitious targets for renewable energy, increased social protection and biodiversity.

With Steven Agnew now standing it means we have a candidate in every EU constituency in England, Scotland and Wales with only Connacht in Ireland not yet selectinga candidate.”

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Agnew said, “Everyone knows the problems; the ‘triple crunch’ of job losses, fuel poverty and climate change. I offer a solution that will tackle all three, a solution that has the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs here in Northern Ireland. I offer asolution where new green technologies will bring energy security to Northern Ireland and ensure we play our part in the fight against climate change. I offer a Green industrial revolution.”

The campaign was launched in Harland and Wolff’s huge new wind turbine assembly facility, which also assembled the massive tidal turbine currently breaking all energy records in Strangford Lough.

Outlining how a Green Industrial Revolution might happen with the right political leadership Mr. Agnew said: “Energy efficiency measures such asthe insulation of homes can create much-needed jobs in the construction sector, as well as reducing energy bills and emissions. There are also thousands of jobs in sustainable waste solutions based on the principal of reduce, reuse, and recycle rather than incineration. A shift in expenditure to more sustainable forms of transport not only creates a public transport which people actually want to use but also creates jobs.”

Cllr Cadogan Enright pledged the full support of the Green Party in Strangford and Down District to Steve Agnew’s campaign.”

Press Cuttings: Enright behind MEP candidate

GREEN PARTY EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER HOME-START FUNDING CUTS.

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on January 9, 2009
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, 3. LOCAL AREA, Ballynahinch/Spa, Cadogan Enright, Downpatrick, Employment/Economics, Health / Local Services and Newcastle
. 0 Comments

Cllr Enright at the Homestart Offices in Downpatrick.

Down District Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright has expressed his strong concerns to the Ministry of Health and Public Safety over their plans to cut of funding to the highly regarded Home-Start satellite Schemes in the Down District Area.

Cllr Enright has learned that the budget allocation for ‘ex Children’s Fund’ projects is due to be reduced by over one half in March 2009 and that there will be no further funding available from the Department of Health beyond March 2010.

In 2006 Home-Start Northern Ireland worked with 25 schemes to support 1,573 families and 2,908 children. Their volunteers visit families every week and have given support to parents in all sorts of difficult situations such as bereavement, illness, disability or for those who are finding parenting a struggle.

Green Party Cllr Cadogan Enright said, “What worries me is that if this funding is taken away, the families that have been depending on Home-Start will lose a vital lifeline. It will result in the closures of helpful schemes undertaken by Home-Start volunteers and the valuable work, which we have seen help many families in Downpatrick and district, Ballynahinch, Newcastle and other local areas, being unable to continue.

“I have called on the Minister for Health and Public Safety, Michael McGimpsey, to strongly consider implementing a new funding strategy so that we will not see Home-Start Scheme closures or reductions in their services.”

Cllr Enright concluded, “I am certain that many families have benefited from Home-Start locally and I would ask the local people to also write to the Minister asking him to continue funding and keep the admirable work of Home-Start going.”

Press Cuttings: Enright speaks up for 'valuable' home-start schemes, Support grows for homestart

GREENS EXPRESS DELIGHT AT GREEN ENERGY SUCCESS

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on January 2, 2009
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, Cadogan Enright, Employment/Economics, Nuclear, Renewable Energy and Strangford Lough and town
. 0 Comments

The Record Breaking SeaGen Turbine now fully operational.

Green Party Cllr Cadogan Enright has expressed his delight at the news that the tidal stream turbine between Strangford and Portaferry has broken the world record for generating renewable energy.

Cllr Enright represents Down District Council on the Strangford Lough Management Advisory Committee and is the Green Party spokesperson for Energy in Northern Ireland.

Green Cllr Cadogan Enright said, “SeaGen has been undergoing trials since it was installed at the mouth of Strangford Lough in May and is now running its turbines at full capacity producing enough power for 1000 homes. This is another world first in Co. Down. This system is generating 1.2 megawatts of energy which is four times more powerful than any other tidal system.”

Cllr Enright pointed out that Co Down was on the leading edge of renewable energy across a range of eco-technologies. He said; “We have 500 manufacturing jobs in Kingspan in Newry, Bangor and Portadown, we have huge employment in Dimplex and over 55 small renewable energy businesses right across the district employing over 300 people. This is the least known and least celebrated success story in Down. “

Cllr Cadogan Enright condemned other local councillors like ex-Down District Chairpeson Cllr Eddie Rea who sought to ignore these successes and persisted in calling for a Nuclear power plant in Killough.

“The evacuated solar tubes produced to date in Bangor alone now produce the equivalent of the output of a nuclear power station in installations as far apart as Downpatrick, Shanghai Airport and Germany with no waste products. It is depressing when you listen to other local politicians ignoring locally based commercial successes of renewable energy in Co Down and instead call for massive subsidies for inefficient, expensive and dangerous nuclear power plants to be installed in this district with no thought as to where the waste is to be put”. Cllr Enright concluded

Press Cuttings: Greens praise tidal turbine, Enright welcomes lough turbine record, Enright welcomes record-breaking power generator

MAKING LOCAL POLITICS WORK – ACT LOCAL, THINK GLOBAL

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on October 28, 2008
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, 5. EVENTS, Cadogan Enright, Climate Change/Flooding, Downpatrick, Employment/Economics, John Hardy, Newcastle and Renewable Energy
. 0 Comments

Photo shows launch of Sustainable Energy Association in Dublin, (l-r) John Hardy, Eamonn Ryan Minister for Energy, Ruth McGuigan SEA Chairperson and Cllr Cadogan Enright.

Local Green Party members from Downpatrick and Newcastle have been instrumental in setting up a unique organisation to represent the renewable energy industry in Ireland.

On Friday 17th October, the Sustainable Energy Association was launched in Dublin by Eamonn Ryan, the Green Party Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. This is a major step for an organisation which began life in Downpatrick.

Back in January, Cllr Cadogan Enright organised a meeting for all businesses in County Down involved in the installation of renewable energy, to discuss their future. They were faced with economic crisis due to the ending by DUP’s Peter Robinson of the Reconnect grant scheme and the failure of DUP ministers to implement mandatory micro-generation in the building regulations introduced by Minister Hain.

This meeting was a great success, with over 40 local businesses in attendance. The skills and investment involved in the industry were obvious, and it was agreed at that meeting to establish an organisation to represent this sector and promote renewables with the Government and the public.

As a result, the Sustainable Energy Association was established and was later launched in Stormont by Green Party MLA Brian Wilson, with a large turnout from over 80 companies employing 3000 people across Northern Ireland and the Republic. Given the large number of companies from the Republic of Ireland who supported the organisation, it was decided to launch it in Dublin as an all-island body.

Green Party members continued to be involved with the organisation, as Newcastle local co-ordinator John Hardy has been helping to organise the events. He said, “I’m very proud to be working on such a necessary and rewarding project, as this industry is set to be crucial to energy and construction in the future”.

The Association was launched in Dublin by Minister Eamonn Ryan, who is a Green Party TD, and he welcomed the establishment of the organisation and praised those involved. There is also a link between Minister Ryan and Downpatrick, as local Cllr Cadogan Enright was a co-author of the energy policy currently being implemented by Mr Ryan in the all-Island energy market.

Cllr Enright said “It is encouraging to know that something which started locally has grown to this extent and will play an important role in influencing energy production and use in Ireland. It shows how acting locally can have a much greater effect. This is local politics in action as they were meant to be and Cllr Cadogan Enright congratulated Newcastle’s John Hardy for leading the association of Renewable Energy Businesses in such an effective way.”

Press Cuttings: Down Representatives to the Fore in Renewable Energy Promotion, Local greens are key to setting up of all-ireland body, Green Shades SEA Feature